On May 7-18, scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and Southeast Fisheries Science Center led a multiagency field mission to conduct the most comprehensive visual fishery-independent characterization of fish and benthic communities around the island of St. Croix USVI to date. The mission was funded by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and [...]
On March 20, 2012, NOAA and New York’s Department of State jointly announced the release of A Biogeographic Assessment of Seabirds, Deep Sea Corals and Ocean Habitats of the New York Bight. The 2-year study, led by scientists at NCCOS and New York’s Department of State Ocean and Great Lakes Program, will advance New York’s management of its [...]
Last week, scientists from NCCOS released new habitat maps for Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM) describing the geology and biology of the seafloor from 0 to 1,830 meters (m) in depth. These maps were developed using a combination of manual and computer-based mapping methods, which integrated remotely-sensed images acquired by six different sensors. This effort marks the [...]
To provide new high resolution data for the nearshore waters of St. Thomas, St. John, and St Croix, USVI, NCCOS scientists partnered with NOAA’s Office of Coastal Survey, Fugro LADS Corporation, and the US Virgin Islands Territorial Government. The new data filled what were previously significant data gaps in coastal waters (0-30 m water depth). NOAA’s Office of Coast [...]
Collaborating with local partners, scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science recently completed annual research missions in St. John, USVI, and the La Parguera/Guanica region of southwest Puerto Rico, where they continue to evaluate the health of marine resources, including reef fish, corals and invertebrates. In both locations, dive teams surveyed habitats to [...]
A new NOAA report provides the sharpest picture yet of one of the world’s more vibrant coral reef ecosystems and presents an approach for identifying and conserving marine biological hotspots throughout the region. Prepared by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, A Biogeographic Assessment of the Samoan Archipelago examines the regional ocean climate, distribution [...]
Understanding potential fishing impacts has been identified as a priority management issue at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. In May, scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and partnering agencies conducted the second of three planned remotely operated vehicle (ROV) cruises to develop baseline information about the sanctuary’s deepwater fish and [...]
Scientists use cameras and sonar near the U.S. Virgin Islands to ‘see’ the sea floor and find out how fish and other sea life use the underwater habitats, which include coral reefs and sea grasses. via Video — Scientists “See” Ocean Floor via Sonar — National Geographic.